IOC president Thomas Bach discusses the Youth Olympic Games, their potential impact on the Olympics, and Rio de Janeiro’s preparation for the Games in 2016 with NBC'sLewis Johnson."We see now things getting off the ground," Bach says of preparations in Brazil. "I’m sure Brazil will make it, because they know that they have no time to lose. But they see now the progress.
"They have confidence from having organized a good World Cup, and I’m sure in two years from now, we will enjoy an Olympic festival in Brazil."
Basketball star Yao Ming tells China's Xinhua News Agency,"I believe in the Youth Games, this is the next generation of athletes,we should [do] away with the results, the records, the medals."
Malaysian newspaperThe Starsays, "Malaysia’s campaign at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing ended on a whimper as the athletes were bundled out of competition." Malaysian archer Muhammad Zarif Syahiir Zolkepeli finished his time at the YOG without individual success, following a silver medal effort in the mixed team event on Sunday.
China Radio International's Jordan Lee says,"One of the big questions being asked in Nanjing now iswhat's next for the young athletes."For many athletes, leaving the podium at the Youth Olympic Games represents their first steps away from junior level events.
"ShakurStevenson bulldozed through the Youth Olympic boxing competition,winning all nine of his rounds on every judge’s scorecard en route to 52kg gold Wednesday," NBC's Nick Zaccardi reports. Stevenson discusses his next goal with Zaccardi--winning a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Past and Future Olympic Games
Chicago Tribunecolumnist Philip Hersh asks,"Where's the IOC love for L.A. '84?"Even though the 1984 Los Angeles Games may have saved the Olympics, Hersh says, "You would never know that from the International Olympic Committee's indifference to the recent 30th anniversary of those Summer Olympics."
In a letter to the editor inThe Washington Post, Matthew D. Gelfand, predictswinning a bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games "would be no victory for D.C." He was responding to an Aug. 25 Washington Posteditorial about the District's quest to hold the 2024 Olympics.
Russian photographer Alexander Belenkiy's documents how the Rosa Khutor resort--which was built for the 2014 Olympics--has already become a ghost town.
In Other News
Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight website crunches the numbers for what to expect from the United States men's basketball team at the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
The AFP describes hotels in Tokyo as the world's cleanest and hotels in Rio de Janeiro as the dirtiest in the world."Not all hotels live up to the same standards when it comes to cleanliness," the AFP writes. "And while some properties seem to have made it a top priority, others seem to have let things slide in the housekeeping department."
Compiled byNicole Bennett
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